The BMA has urged NHS England to end Capita’s contract for GP back office services, after it failed to deliver correspondence relating to cervical cancer screening to 47,700 women.

The BMA has written to NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens after becoming aware of the issue, which it said mainly relates to appointment invitations or reminder letters, but does include some screening results.

The GP Committee called Capita’s running of services ‘nothing short of shambolic’ and said it is ‘frankly appalling’ that the private company’s ‘gross error’ may have put patients at risk.

In the letter to Mr Stevens, the BMA demanded that NHS England strip Capita of the contract and take Primary Care Support England (PCSE) services back in-house.

According to the BMA, PCSE has written to those affected to apologise and informed GP practices.

In response, the BMA said that it is ‘preparing practices’ for the understandable concerns and queries that patients are going to have.

The BMA said that while GPs will do all they can to provide these women with support, they should not bear the brunt of rectifying the failings of a private company – something which they said GPs experienced in the past.

BMA GP Committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: ‘This is an incredibly serious situation, and it is frankly appalling that patients may now be at risk because of this gross error on the part of Capita.

‘Some women will now be left extremely anxious because they have not received important correspondence, particularly letters about abnormal smear test results that need urgent follow up. This has been caused solely by Capita’s incompetence.’

He added: ‘Since it took responsibility for GP back room functions three years ago, Capita‘s running of these services has been nothing short of shambolic and after repeated warnings from the BMA and government, this is now clear evidence that its failings have put patient safety – and possibly lives – at risk.

‘It is ultimately NHS England that bears overall responsibility and it must now take this service back in-house. As the body which commissioned Capita to take on this work, despite clear warning signs that it was not up to the job, NHS England must shoulder the blame for this dreadful situation; you cannot outsource responsibility.’

A spokesperson for NHS England said: 'Capita has alerted NHS England to an administrative failure in its processing of cervical screening, which means some women have not received invitation, reminder and result letters when they should have.

'Every woman’s case is being reviewed, but there is no current evidence that this incident has led to harm to the women involved, and our priority now is to ensure that anyone affected by this incident is contacted, and knows how to get checked if they are due a cervical screen.'

Readers' comments (7)

‘’'Every woman’s case is being reviewed, but there is no current evidence that this incident has led to harm to the women involved, and our priority now is to ensure that anyone affected by this incident is contacted, and knows how to get checked if they are due a cervical screen.'‘’

So you guys (BMA) , stop being a cry wolf . We(NHSE) know what we are doing . You GPs should concentrate on your job instead. Look at the mess of over 65 flu vaccines, you are responsible!!!

Be honest .
After the Madangate scandal , NHSE basically refuses to learn any lesson . Blaming us for the fiasco on flu vaccines and this blind defence is an indefensible Capita ?
Please , get me a break . This war can only go on and don’t say we are militant and belligerent.
Remember , NHSE , you need us more than we need you .

Now lets consider what would happen to a GP if we did something of similar ineptitude,they would find the nearest lamp post and hang draw and quarter us.We would be publicly flogged.Crapitia they will get yet another contract.Bloody marvellous.